Can a simple clinic referral get couch potatoes moving?
NCT ID NCT07340580
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study works with 35 primary care clinics to help them screen patients for physical inactivity and refer them to community-based exercise programs. The goal is to see if this approach can be smoothly integrated into routine care and whether it leads to better health outcomes for patients with conditions like obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Researchers will track how many patients get referred and how their activity levels change.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- clinic implementation facilitation (behavioral intervention)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show how to make physical activity screening and referral a routine part of healthcare, helping prevent chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage implementation study with only 35 clinics and no patient-level outcomes yet. It may not prove that the program improves health or is cost-effective.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 35 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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May 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2030
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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Children (under 18), adults (18 to 64) and older adults (65 and over)
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
The primary aim of this study is implementation facilitation at the clinic level. The secondary aim of this study is at the patient level. Therefore we have divided our inclusion/exclusion eligibility criteria by primary and secondary aim. 1\. Clinic (primary aim) Inclusion criteria * Currently EIMG-activated Prisma Health-Upstate Primary Care clinic (family or internal medicine) * Adopted EIMG \>= 6 months prior to the beginning of this study Exclusion criteria * Not EIMG-activated * Adopted EIMG \< 6 months prior to the beginning of this study * Greater than 15 miles from the nearest YMCA 1\. Primary care clinic staff (primary aim) Inclusion criteria * At least 18 years of age * Has worked at the Prisma Health-Upstate clinic since the start date of the intervention in the respective wave, i.e., Pre-IF start date for each wave * Has clinical encounters with a minimum of 25 patients per month * Study clinic is their primary clinic (\>50% of their working time) * Able to understand and communicate in English Exclusion criteria * Less than 18 years of age * Work at the Prisma Health-Upstate clinic started after the Pre-IF phase began * Has clinical encounters with \<25 patients per month * Unable to speak or understand English * Adults unable to provide consent 2\. Patient (secondary aim) Inclusion criteria (must meet all of below) * Age \>= 18 and \<= 80 years * Clinically eligible (diagnosis of hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes, or physical inactivity) to receive an EIMG referral * A healthcare visit with an eligible encounter type (evaluation, telemedicine, consult, office visit, e-visit, follow-up, appointment, education, multidisciplinary visit, nutrition, occupational medicine-office visit) * A healthcare visit at a participating clinic Exclusion criteria * Age \< 18 or \> 80 years * Current referral to Physical therapy or occupational therapy * Current referral to cardiac, pulmonary, or oncology rehab * One of the following visit diagnoses listed below: * Alzheimer's disease * Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis * angina or chest pain * congenital stenosis of aortic valve * congenital insufficiency of aortic valve * moderate or severe persistent asthma * typical or atypical atrial flutter * autonomic dysreflexia * acute bronchitis * cerebral infarction * encounter for chemotherapy * chronic kidney disease (stage 3-5) * end stage renal disease * coma * acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease * unspecified dementia * dependence on renal dialysis * trisomy 21 * pulmonary embolism * venous embolism and thrombosis * history of falling * acute fracture * left ventricular failure * congestive heart failure * hypertensive urgency, emergency or crisis * diabetes with ketoacidosis * chronic respiratory failure * dependence on supplemental oxygen * myocardial infarction * osteoporosis with current fracture * encounter for palliative care * paraplegia or quadriplegia * Parkinson disease * pneumonia * encounter for supervision of pregnancy * encounter for radiation therapy * serious mental illness (schizophrenia, psychotic disorder) * homicidal or suicidal ideations * sepsis * injury of spinal cord * presence of coronary stent * dependence on wheelchair or ambulatory aid For patients completing accelerometry data collection, the additional inclusion/exclusion criteria apply: Inclusion criteria: * Received an EIMG referral and scheduled for orientation * Attending orientation at two pre-determined community PA facilities (these sites were selected due to each being the largest urban and rural YMCA referral sites in the study) Exclusion criteria: * Unable to provide verbal informed consent * Planning on travel or vacation during data collection, as patient PA behavior is anticipated to differ from 'everyday' PA behavior at home * Unable to wear a watch during work hours due to employment restrictions e.g., food service, healthcare, operating heavy machinery/construction, laboratory-based work etc. In addition, for patients completing interviews, the additional inclusion/exclusion criteria apply: Inclusion criteria: \- Received an EIMG referral Exclusion criteria: * Unable to provide verbal informed consent * Unable to speak or understand English * \<18 years of age
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Prisma Health - Upstate
Greenville, South Carolina, 29605, United States
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